Race for the No. 1 Pick of the 2025 NFL Draft:
Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jaguars are 2-9 after getting blown out by the Lions. Jacksonville should not have given Trevor Lawrence a massive contract last offseason as they could have franchised him and waited another year to see if they should marry themselves with a huge second contract. But what’s done is done, and if the Jaguars land the top pick, they should move down and load up on picks for years to come.
New York Giants:
Last week the Giants lost to the Panthers in Germany, and that puts New York tied for the worst record in the NFC at 2-8. If New York lands the No.1 pick, they should take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders to be their franchise quarterback and replace Daniel Jones.
Tennessee Titans:
The Titans fell to 2-8 on the season with a loss to the Vikings. Tennessee is a prime contender for the No. 1 pick with Will Levis or Mason Rudolph at quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders:
The Raiders are 2-8 after losing in Miami, and they are dealing with the ramifications of many terrible decisions by Mark Davis. Allowing the NFL league office to force him to fire Jon Gruden was a crucial mistake. Davis then followed it up by not keeping Rich Bisaccia after the Raiders went to the playoffs, and then Davis made the terrible move of hiring Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler and getting rid of Derek Carr. Las Vegas has a bad roster after the McDaniels-Ziegler years and needs a massive rebuild, including a true replacement for Carr.
Cleveland Browns:
In Week 9, the Browns were dropped to 2-8 as the Saints blew out Cleveland. Cleveland’s offense has struggled all season, and the Browns roster has had a lot of injuries and attrition from the playoff unit of last year.
Top General Manager Candidates:
- Detroit Lions director of scouting development Mike Martin
- Detroit Lions assitant general manager Ray Agnew
- Atlanta Falcons vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith
- Indianapolis Colts chief personnel executive Morocco Brown
- Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray
- Tennessee Titans director of pro scouting Brian Gardner
- Philadelphia Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt
- Miami Dolphins assistant general manager Marvin Allen
- Washington director of pro scouting Eric Stokes
- New England Patriots executive Alonzo Highsmith
Top Head Coach Candidates:
- Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden
- Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick
- Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
- Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
- Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
- Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley
- Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
- Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen
- Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson
Head Coach Hot-Seat Tracker:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson
- Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy
- New York Giants: Brian Daboll
- Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus
Let’s Play Matchmaker:
Seattle Seahawks: Will Campbell, OT, LSU 
The Seahawks pulled off a comeback win, and Seattle really took advantage of the 49ers after Nick Bosa left the game with an injury. It was a huge win for the Seahawks to improve to 5-5 and stay in the NFC West Divisional race. Seattle surprisingly passed on offensive line help in the first round last year, and they could use more blocking talent to go with Charles Cross from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Campbell earned the starting left tackle job in training camp as a true freshman in 2022 and started 13 games there. He then held onto the spot as a sophomore in 2023, protecting the blind side of Jayden Daniels. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Campbell is big and enters the NFL with a lot of valuable experience. Campbell would make sense for the Seahawks in the first round to give them a bookend to pair with Cross.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri 
The Steelers got a huge win over the Ravens in a low scoring defensive battle. Pittbsurgh had a nice game from George Pickens (8-89), but they did no have another wide receiver have two receptions or even five yards receiving. Clearly, Pittsburgh needs more wide receiver talent and playmakers for their offense.
In 2024, Burden has 53 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns. Burden played really well as a sophomore in 2023, putting up 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. As a freshman, he flashed with 45 catches for 375 yards and six scores. He also ran the ball somewhat that season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry and scoring two touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 208-pound Burden is an explosive playmaker and could be a riser for the 2025 NFL Draft. Burden would make sense for the Steelers in the first round.
Los Angeles Rams: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan 
The Rams got back on track with a win over the Patriots. At 5-5, Los Angeles still has a shot at the NFC West divisional title, and getting a wild card will be more difficult considering the records of the Vikings, Packers, and Commanders. Los Angeles young defense played well with Braden Fiske getting two sacks against New England. One area they still need to get an upgrade is a true No. 1 corner to replace Jalen Ramsey. Drake Maye had some success through the air even though New England severly lacks wide receiver talent.
In 2024, Johnson has recorded 14 tackles, two interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), and three passes defended. He returned 86 yards for a touchdown. Johnson played really well for the Wolverines in 2023 and provided very good coverage late in the year during their championship run. He totaled 27 tackles, four interceptions and four passes defended. In 2022, he recorded 27 tackles, three interceptions, and three passes broken up. The 6-foot-2, 202-pounder has a good skill set and upside. He would be an excellent first-round pick for the Rams.
Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina 
The Dolphins cruised over the Raiders, and Miami improved to 4-6. While they are still in a big hole, they won on a short week after getting a big Monday night win over the Rams. Miami scored 34, but their defense was torched by Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers (13-126-1). The Dolphins could use a long-term safety that can help to defend the middle of the field.
Emmanwori has 71 tackles, two passes broken up, and four interceptions with two returned for a touchdown. He had an interception returned for a touchdown against Kentucky, another returned for a score against Oklahoma, and had a 102-yard touchdown pick-six that had the return whipped out on a suspect penalty versus LSU. Emmanwori (6-3, 220) is a huge safety with rare coverage ability for a player that big. He has been a steady contributor for the Gamecocks for the past two seasons. In 2023, he had 71 tackles, 10 passes broken up, and two interceptions in 11 games. The previous season, he totaled 85 tackles as a freshman. Emmanwori is a freak athlete with instincts and speed and can flash some physicality.
Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama 
The Colts got a big road win in New York, with Anthony Richardson showing improvement in his return to the starting spot. Indianapolis did allow a couple of sacks to the interior of the Jets defensive line, and adding a guard to go with Quenton Nelson would make sense to get more out of their talented runners. In the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, they could land a road grader that is a plug-and-play upgrade.
In his second season as a starter with the Crimson Tide, Booker (6-5, 325) has turned into a dominant performer up front who consistently wins his blocks in impressive fashion. As a pass protector, Booker has no issues stonewalling bullrushes and mirroring speed rushers. Booker is a beast and extremely strong as a run blocker. He constantly generates movement at the point of attack and drives defenders out of their gap in a violent fashion. The powerful Booker can get a serious push at the line with brute physicality and power. He is a people mover in the ground game and looks like a plug-and-play starter at guard in the NFL.
Green Bay Packers: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss 
The Packers were able to hold onto a win in Chicago thanks to a blocked field goal on the final play of the game. Green Bay allowed some clutch completions from Caleb Williams, and cornerback is a position that they could use some more young talent. Drafting defense in the first round has been their inclination and considering the contract status of Eric Stokes and Jaire Alexander, Green Bay could add a cornerback as a potential replacement.
Amos flashed on tape for Alabama in 2023, and he has picked up where he left off after transferring to Ole Miss. Thus far in 2024, Amos has 41 tackles with three interceptions and 11 passes broken up. Amos (6-1, 190) has good size, speed, and athleticism. He could be a riser for the 2025 NFL Draft next April. In the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Amos would be a good fit for the Packers.
Philadelphia Eagles: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
The Eagles took care of business on Thursday Night Fooball with a huge home win over the young, upstart Commanders. Philadelphia got another massive performance from Saquon Barkley, and the Eagles defense continued their hot play. One issue that they had was stopping Austin Ekeler as a receiver, and the linebacker position has been an issue for years. Nakobe Dean is a good player, but they could use a linebacker to pair with him. Considering the Eagles will likely have to take on some elite rushing offenses in the Lions or 49ers in the playoffs, having good linebacker talent is going to be a necessity to get back to the Super Bowl.
Stutsman (6-4, 241) is a tough linebacker for the Sooners, making a lot of tackles and some splash plays for his defense. Thus far in 2024, Stutsman has 96 tackles with one sack. In 2023, he totaled 104 tackles, three sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles, and three passes defended. In 2022, he recorded 124 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, and five passes broken up. Team sources said Stutsman is athletic, quick, and instinctive. They said he has good size and length but lacks ideal strength and physicality. He also has some limitations in coverage. They called Stutsman a less strong, more finesse version of Pete Werner. Stutsman could be a nice second-round pick for the Eagles.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Washington Commanders:
Washington played the Eagles tough on Thursday night but ultimately came up short in a one-score loss to the Eagles. The Commanders have been one of the surprises of the 2024 season as new head coach Dan Quinn has done a tremendous job. With rookie franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels off to a tremendous start, Washington is clearly a franchise on the rise and has a triggerman that looks capable of turning the Commanders into Super Bowl contenders. In the 2025 NFL Draft, it would make sense for the Commanders to target the positions on offense to help Daniels or a quarterback hunter on defense to make them more potent for taking on the elite of the NFC.
In my latest mock 2025 NFL Draft, I have Commanders bolstering their offensive line with Alabma guard Tyler Booker. Booker would be a phenomenal asset to the rushing offense as he is a beast at the point of attack. He could form a good tandem with Sam Cosmi for a strong interior.
Even though the Commanders drafted Luke McCaffrey in the third round last year, they could use more receiving weapons for Daniels. Terry McLaurin is an excellent pro, but they could use another playmaker to go across from him. Perhaps the Commanders would have a shot at a receiver like Missouri’s Luther Burden III, but the Bills won’t pick high enough for Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. Some late first-round or day-two receivers that could be good options to consider include Ole Miss’ Tre Harris, LSU’s Kyren Lacy, TCU’s Savion Williams, Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, Oregon’s Evan Stewart, or Maryland’s Kaden Prather.
The 2025 NFL Draft could be a great year to add more defensive line talent next to Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, and Johnny Newton. The Commanders have some competent veterans who function well in Quinn’s defense, but they could use a lead edge rusher capable of getting after quarterbacks with regular pressure. Some top-25 edge rush options include Georgia’s Mykel Williams, Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr, Penn State’s Abdul Carter, and LSU linebacker/edge rusher Harold Perkins. A lot or all of them may not get to the Commanders’ pick. Still, there could be other good early-round edge rushers that are worthy of a late first- or second-round pick like Marshall’s Mike Green, Ole Miss’ Princely Umanmielen, LSU’s Bradyn Swinson, Arkansas’ Landon Jackson, Syracuse’s Fadill Diggs, and Miami’s Tyler Baron.
The Commanders have the makings of a strong roster and are a well-coached team. Another good draft to add pass rush and receiver talent could help get Washington closer to making a Super Bowl run.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jacksonville Jaguars have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season. A year ago, they looked poised to run away with their division and contend with the elite teams in the AFC for the Super Bowl. However, the Jaguars suffered a late-season collapse, and that has carried over to the 2024 season. After getting blown out by the Lions, Jacksonville sits at 2-9 and is one of the favorites to land the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
If the Jaguars land the No. 1 pick, the best they could hope for is a trade down situation where they land a package of early-round picks. I thought Jacksonville should have waited to see if Trevor Lawrence could play well in 2024 before signing him to a massive extension, but the Jaguars jumped the gun and did it last spring. Thus, they are saddled with Lawrence for better or worse for many seasons to come. While they could hope to trade down, a market may not be there for the pick. That was the case in 2022 when they landed the No. 1 pick a year after taking Lawrence first overall. Jacksonville ended up selecting Travon Walker after nobody made them an offer good enough to move down. That situation could happen again next April.
In my latest mock 2025 NFL Draft, I have the Jaguars taking Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter with the first pick. Jacksonville needs more cornerback talent and also could use more weapons for Lawrence. Hunter would be a great fit to help them on both sides of the ball. Aside from Hunter, the Jaguars could opt for more defensive line talent. They could consider ends like Georgia’s Mykel Williams, Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., or Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. Any of that trio would be an upgrade and could help to improve their vulnerable pass defense and inability to sto pthe run.
Jacksonville could also consider more talent for the offensive line. Keeping Trevor Lawrence healthy is critical, and improving the run blocking is a necessity. The Jaguars traded Cam Robinson, and Walker Little is in the last year of his contract. In the first round of the 2025 NFL draft, Jacksonville could consider LSU’s Will Campbell as a long-term tackle to pair with Anton Harrison. In the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, some quality options could be considered, like Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea, LSU’s Emery Jones, Minnesota’s Aireontae Ersery, N.C. State’s Anthony Belton, Texas’ Kelvin Banks, or Georgia’s Earnest Greene. Some might go in the first round, but Jacksonville should have some available early on the second night of the draft.
The Jaguars have made a lot of bad hires for general managers and head coaches under the ownership of Shad Khan. Jacksonville could use a reset in the team’s brain trust. They would be wise to hire Lions executive Mike Martin as their general manager. He would be great to pair with a new head coach like Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, or Jon Gruden. For the Jaguars to turn things around with Trevor Lawrence, they would need to hire them before it’s too late and they squander Lawrence’s immense skill set.
